Troy’s Scott named to Groza Pre-Season Watch List
Published 10:25 pm Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Troy University senior kicker Will Scott has been named to the initial Groza Award Watch list.
The Palm Beach Country Sports Commission released the list of 30 players from across the country on Wednesday. The award, named for NFL Hall of Fame kicker Lou “The Toe” Groza, is handed out annually to the nation’s top place-kicker. Groza won four NFL championships with the Cleveland Browns and was named NFL Player of the Year in 1954.
Scott connected on 17-of-21 field goals last season including his final 12 attempts which set the Troy record for most consecutive makes. Against Florida Atlantic, Scott also set the Troy high-water mark by making a 52-yard field goal to pass Tom Clem who made a 50-yarder to win the 1984 national championship.
The list will be narrowed to 20 on Nov. 4. It is from that group that a panel of more than 300 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches, sports information directors, media members and former winners will select the three 2013 finalists. The finalist will be celebrated the week prior to the Orange Bowl and the 22nd Annual Lou Groza Award Collegiate Place-Kicker Award winner is announced at a gala awards banquet in Dec. 10.
Scott tied Troy’s single-game record with four field goals against Arkansas State.
He also nailed a 42-yarder with 11 seconds remaining to lift Troy over Florida International.
A Lucedale, Miss., native Scott transferred to Troy from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where he was a second team All-American averaging 42.7 yards.
Other notable names on the watch list include Arkansas State’s Brian Daivs and Auburn’s Cody Parkey. Vanderbilt’s Carey Spear was the only other SEC kicker to make the list.
One of the favorites on the list is Tulane’s All-American and reigning Groza Award winner Cairo Santos, who became just the second kicker in Division I history to be perfect on more than 20 field goals when he made 21-of-21 last year.
Santos made kicks from 57 and 54 yards out setting a Tulane school record.